Alan Pardew believes a crazy 20-minute spell cost Newcastle dear as they fell to defeat to the first time this year on Saturday.

United went down 5-2 at Fulham, depite leading at half-time, with the Cottagers netting four times in 17 second half minutes.

Danny Guthrie put the Magpies in front with a wonder strike before Fulham levelled through Danny Murphy's penalty after the break, even though the foul by Davide Santon on Damien Duff appeared to be outside the box.

From then on the hosts were completely in control, and Newcastle's boss reckoned that was a key turning point in the match for his troops.

"The first goal for them - the soft goal - seemed to affect us," Pardew told nufcTV.

"Maybe we thought it was an injustice that they were level, but we switched off in a 15-20 minute period and that is unlike us.

"It just goes to show you can't do that at this level. We got paid handsomely for that.

"We've not had a period as bad as that, and yet we had got ourselves in such a great position. We are very disappointed.

"We talked about being on our guard in the second half but just didn't defend well at all."